The Choir School at St. Peter’s Change Names to Charlotte Choir School
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Choir School at St. Peter’s, Charlotte’s leading music education program, today announced it is changing its name to Charlotte Choir School. The name change reflects the organization’s commitment to the city of Charlotte and the community it serves.
“For 29 years, our organization has enriched the lives of Charlotte’s young people through excellent, accessible music education and choral performance,” board president Dr. John W. Hall said. “Our program is for our entire community, and our new name Charlotte Choir School reflects our commitment to this city and its young people.”
Charlotte Choir School serves more than 75 students from every background and corner of the Charlotte region, and since its founding in 1993, more than 800 students have participated in its excellent, accessible program. In June, the Choirs returned to in-person performances for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This month, Charlotte Choir School begins its 29th season and will present its annual fall concert on October 16, 2021.
“The pandemic took away our ability to perform in person for Charlotte audiences. But, it also gave us an opportunity to look inward and reflect on our place in the Charlotte community,” executive director Davis A. Tapp said. “We are a proud steward of Charlotte’s cultural life, and we believe this new name will be a part of reintroducing our choirs to Charlotte after a long year away.”
Charlotte Choir School remains in residence at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Uptown Charlotte. Founded in the tradition of English cathedral choirs, Charlotte Choir School relies on St. Peter’s as a founding partner to provide our students a living laboratory for choral music making. Charlotte Choir School Artistic Director Elizabeth Lenti is also Organist and Director of Music at St. Peter’s.
“The unique partnership between Charlotte Choir School and St. Peter’s extends nearly three decades, and we are so excited for this next chapter,” The Rev. Jacob E. Pierce, Rector of St. Peter’s, and Elizabeth Lenti said. “The Choirs have enriched the St. Peter’s community and St. Peter’s has offered a perfect home for our program. Together, we look forward to Charlotte Choir School becoming an even larger part of Charlotte’s cultural fabric.”
Charlotte Choir School was represented in the renaming effort by brand strategist and board member Geoff Yost, an alumnus of the organization, and by Moore & Van Allen, who provided pro-bono assistance with trademark registration. The new name is effective immediately, and will be implemented throughout the upcoming season.
# # #
About Charlotte Choir School
Since 1993, Charlotte Choir School has enriched and strengthened young lives through excellent, rigorous music education and choral performance. Conceived in the English choral tradition, the program serves young men and women from every background and corner of the Charlotte region, with more than 75 students aged seven to 18 comprising five distinct choirs. Over its nearly 30 year history, the organization has taught more than 800 Charlotte-area students. Entirely tuition-free, the 501(c)3 nonprofit relies on individual contributions, foundation, and corporate support. You can learn more at CharlotteChoirSchool.org.
Press Contact
Geoff Yost
Yost Strategy
geoff@yoststrategy.com
(704) 877-7875
Attending a Concert
Whether you’ve been attending Charlotte Choir School concerts for years, or this will be your first time, we want you to enjoy yourself and support our singers as a comfortable member of our audience. Here are some frequently asked questions about the concert-going experience that may help.
When do I applaud?
Our choirs love an enthusiastic and appreciative audience, so we encourage your applause. Please hold any applause during short pauses between movements or sections of longer pieces. Once a complete piece has ended, your applause is greatly appreciative. A standing ovation for our final curtain call is always appreciated, too!
May I bring food and beverages?
Food or beverage is not permitted in our main stage venue, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Please respect the sanctity of our founding partner’s worship space.
What if I arrive late?
Concerts begin promptly at the announced starting time. Latecomers and those who leave the venue before or during a work will be seated at the first appropriate break in the program.
When should I arrive?
Please consider how long it will take you to park, walk to our venue, check in, and have a moment before the show to familiarize yourself with the program and relax. We suggest you arrive at the venue at least 20 minutes before showtime.
Can I bring my cell phone or camera?
Yes, cell phones and cameras are allowed. However, we require that you turn off all cell phones, cameras, pagers, beeping watches, and other electronic devices before the performance begins — and that you check to see that they are again turned off after any intermission.Audience members may take photographs before and after the concert. Please note, however, that no photography or recording of any kind is permitted during the performance. Anyone seen using a camera, smart phone, or other device for these activities will be asked to leave.
How long are your concerts?
Our main stage concerts are about 90 minutes and are generally presented without an intermission.
Where do I get my tickets?
Tickets are sold on our website and all tickets are delivered by email to the purchaser. We do not have a will call, and your ticket (printed or on device) must be presented for proof at the venue.
Where do I park?
For main stage concerts at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church or First United Methodist Church, free parking is provided in the TransAmerica Square parking garage on Seventh Street. Enter on Seventh just west of Tryon and bring your ticket with you to the show for validation.
What should I wear?
You’re Uptown for a concert in Charlotte — have fun! But there’s no need to stress. Business or business casual works for all main stage concerts. Most importantly, we want you to be comfortable.
What if I know nothing about choral music and your repertoire?
That’s okay! We perform sacred and secular choral music with a repertoire that features a mix of accessible, familiar choral works, and some pieces you may not expect. You don’t need to know anything about our repertoire to enjoy our concerts. We will publish the concert program in advance, with information about the composers featured and pieces to be performed. We’ll also include links to Spotify and Apple Music where you can hear some pieces in commercial recordings. Elizabeth Lenti, our Artistic Director, also offers program notes from the stage with information on what to listen for in a piece.
